Singapore is a popular spot for a stopover when travelling from, say, Europe to Australia or as a quick stop on a whistle stop tour of Asia. Safe, modern and remarkably clean, there are a lot of good reasons why you should try fit in a quick visit to Singapore.
Botanical Gardens
Singapore is known as "the garden city" and the Gardens By The Bay are a testament to this. Entry isn't cheap ($28sgd or €17), but it's well worth it, regardless of whether you are a plant-buff or not. Another positive is that they are indoor and air conditioned, good for escaping the tropical heat! The Cloud Forest section in particular is a must-see but be careful as misting only takes place every few hours, so try plan out your visit in advance to make sure you don't miss it.
If you're not too keen on spending the cash, the city also has a botanical garden that is free and open to the public, and has a few cool sections such as a "poison garden". If you're lucky you might even see a big monitor lizard roaming around!
Super Trees
The bay area is where it's at in Singapore. Adjoining the Gardens By The Bay are the Super Trees, which are free to roam around. There is a lightshow set to music in the evenings (Garden Rhapsody) which is also free to enjoy and highly recommended. The music and themes change every few weeks. For a price you can climb up one of the structures and walk along a short walkway from one tree to another - a nice gimmick but probably not worth the money.
Marina Bay Sands
This is the famous hotel with the infinity pool on top. Before you get excited, know that access to the pool is strictly for residents and room are not cheap. However, the hotel has a big luxury shopping centre underneath called The Shoppes, and there you can avail of gondola (or sampan) rides along the indoor canal for $10sgd (€6). Step outside and you get a view of the hi-tech cityscape across a lake, great for pictures around sunset.
China Town Shopping
Singapore has a huge mix of cultures, and is great for trying different types of cuisine or shopping districts. The China Town area is decorated nicely and offers quite good value for money in terms of souvenirs. Similarly, Bugis Street is an indoor market with a lot of stalls and a good place to pick up a quick snack, or if you're looking for high street brands head to the Bugis+ and Bugis Junction shopping centres, right next door.
Changi Airport
Make sure to be early for your flight, as Singapore Changi airport is often top of the list for worlds best airports. You can check out Japanese gardens (complete with koi fish), rooftop terraces with sunflowers or even a free mini-cinema. Enjoy!
Botanical Gardens
Singapore is known as "the garden city" and the Gardens By The Bay are a testament to this. Entry isn't cheap ($28sgd or €17), but it's well worth it, regardless of whether you are a plant-buff or not. Another positive is that they are indoor and air conditioned, good for escaping the tropical heat! The Cloud Forest section in particular is a must-see but be careful as misting only takes place every few hours, so try plan out your visit in advance to make sure you don't miss it.
If you're not too keen on spending the cash, the city also has a botanical garden that is free and open to the public, and has a few cool sections such as a "poison garden". If you're lucky you might even see a big monitor lizard roaming around!
Super Trees
The bay area is where it's at in Singapore. Adjoining the Gardens By The Bay are the Super Trees, which are free to roam around. There is a lightshow set to music in the evenings (Garden Rhapsody) which is also free to enjoy and highly recommended. The music and themes change every few weeks. For a price you can climb up one of the structures and walk along a short walkway from one tree to another - a nice gimmick but probably not worth the money.
Marina Bay Sands
This is the famous hotel with the infinity pool on top. Before you get excited, know that access to the pool is strictly for residents and room are not cheap. However, the hotel has a big luxury shopping centre underneath called The Shoppes, and there you can avail of gondola (or sampan) rides along the indoor canal for $10sgd (€6). Step outside and you get a view of the hi-tech cityscape across a lake, great for pictures around sunset.
China Town Shopping
Singapore has a huge mix of cultures, and is great for trying different types of cuisine or shopping districts. The China Town area is decorated nicely and offers quite good value for money in terms of souvenirs. Similarly, Bugis Street is an indoor market with a lot of stalls and a good place to pick up a quick snack, or if you're looking for high street brands head to the Bugis+ and Bugis Junction shopping centres, right next door.
Changi Airport
Make sure to be early for your flight, as Singapore Changi airport is often top of the list for worlds best airports. You can check out Japanese gardens (complete with koi fish), rooftop terraces with sunflowers or even a free mini-cinema. Enjoy!
Title Photo: Singapore., Philippa Brennan 2018
